DRUG PLAN EXPANDED

Released on July 10, 2001

The Saskatchewan Drug Plan expanded coverage to add 60 new products as of

July 1st.



Most of the products added are new strengths or generic versions of drugs

that are already covered.



One of these is the first generic brand of warfarin. Warfarin is used to

treat clotting disorders and is commonly prescribed to patients who have

had a stroke. It will be considered interchangeable with the currently

listed Coumadin® brand.



Two drugs, raloxifene and lopinavir/ritonavir have been given Exception

Drug Status (EDS). EDS drugs are approved for patients who, based on

scientific evidence, are most likely to benefit. Raloxifene (Evista®) will

be approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in women unable to tolerate

or who do not respond to bisphosphonates after treatment for one year.

Lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra®) will be approved for the management of HIV

disease. It should be used under the direction of a specialist in

infectious diseases.



"The independent drug review determines the benefits of new drugs to

patients and their value to the healthcare system and it ensures the

Saskatchewan Drug Plan is continuously updating treatment options to

improve the health of Saskatchewan residents," Health Minister John Nilson

said.



Six drugs were reviewed but were not approved for coverage. One of the

drugs not recommended by the Saskatchewan Formulary Committee (SFC) is

riluzole, also known as Rilutek®, for the treatment of ALS (Lou Gehrig's

Disease). The committee found the clinical benefit of the drug did not

justify the cost. Clinical studies did not demonstrate an effect on

quality of life.



The Saskatchewan Prescription Drug Plan currently covers about 3,400

products and assists approximately 111,000 families each year. The drug

plan paid out approximately $96 million in benefits to more than 184,500

residents in 2000.



The drug plan assists with drug costs for families with low income,

families with high drug costs, or those with a combination of the two. The

Saskatchewan Government will invest $115 million for Saskatchewan Drug Plan

expenditures in 2001/02. This is a 16 percent increase from the previous

year.



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For more information, contact:



Myrna Stark Leader

Health

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4083